Methods/Design The study compares Cognitive Behavioral Rehabilitation with Treatment as Usual (TAU), the latter being the commonly offered pharmacological treatment to bipolar patients. The psychological intervention will consist of twelve weekly group sessions, lasting 90 minutes each, and including 8 to 10 individuals. Subjects will be randomly assigned to one of the two arms, and submitted to a 12-month follow-up. During the entire study, all patients will be medicated accordingly to their clinical needs, and all changes in medication will be recorded as a secondary outcome , following the Necessary Clinical Adjustment (NCA) instrument. The NCA records medication adjustments implemented to reduce symptoms, improve response and functioning, or handle unbearable side effects.